The Alabama Senate on Monday approved new district lines for the Alabama Senate and Alabama State School Board districts.

The Senate also unanimously approved on Monday the use of $ 80 million in America Rescue Act funds for public hospitals and nursing homes.

Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 2, to approve the new Senate and Alabama school districts, passed with respect on 25-7 and 24-4, after extensive debate in floor that included several obstructions from Senate Democrats.

Senatorial Minority Leader Bobby Singleton D-Montgomery discussed what he described as “unnecessary splits” in Jefferson County and asked if the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jim McClendon, R -Springville, had taken into account all the forecast for the county.

“I want to say for the record that the entire county provision – you took that argument away from me.” You have traveled all over the county. My only argument, I guess, is the unnecessary separations, ”Singleton said.

In an interview with APR On Monday, Singleton said Senate Democrats “haven’t had a chance to examine these districts as deeply as we are” during the district draw process.

On September 27, Singleton and Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that certain congressional districts are “racially gerrymandered”.

Former Senate Minority Leader Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, said the recent addition of an overwhelming number of white voters to her constituency in Mobile County is an example of racial gerrymandering.

“I never had to be part of another county. I’ve always been right in Mobile. According to figures, mentioning that she had asked for part of Baldwin County in a previous redistribution session. “This year I was placed in Baldwin County. When I found out you put me in Baldwin County, I said, “I didn’t want to be in Baldwin County.”

The figures said District 33 – a predominantly black district that encompasses much of Mobile, and now part of the area around Blakeley in Baldwin County – could potentially be lost as a Democratic-majority district.

“After the news that Senate District 33 had been placed in Baldwin County, there was an outcry from citizens saying they did not want to be part of Senate District 33.” Figures said. “I think most of the citizens there didn’t want their riding divided either.”

While on the podium, Figures said the overwhelming number of white voters added to his constituency was “one of the most explicit examples of racial gerrymandering in the history of this state.”

The two Senate bills now go to the House for consideration.